A Fresh Start

Although the calendar says it is still winter, there is a strong feeling that spring is right around the corner.  With Opening Day for the clubhouse just a week away, I thought I would share a few thoughts about what you can expect to see when you return to the golf course in a few weeks.

The most significant change will be the addition of a new fairway bunker on the 9th/18th hole.  This feature was added to strengthen the left side of the hole after a number of pine trees were lost over the last few years.  The bunker was conceived and designed by Tim Gerrish and was constructed by our own maintenance staff.  Due to the location of the bunker, I do not expect it to affect the majority of golfers off the tee.  The unfortunate individuals that do find the bunker will have a difficult time seeing the green from the sand, and will certainly avoid this area in future rounds.

After reviewing the responses from the membership survey, the new Green Committee has made course beautification a priority for 2016 and beyond.  you will find a few projects that we initiated this winter that will help address this concern including new crushed granite cart paths on the 16th forward tee, the 17th back tees, and the 5th/14th tees.  These projects will not only improve the function and appearance of these areas, they will also serve as a test case for the paths that will be added during the Fairway Renovation Project.  We will soon be completing an ornamental planting at the 6th tee/Comfort station area.  This fall we removed some weeds and undergrowth and installed native azaleas, and will be adding Mountain Laurels next month.  In time, the goal is to eventually repeat this theme along the ridge from the 6th tee all the way to the 13th green.  This will highlight the attractive rock outcrops and rugged terrain that is characteristic of the Connecticut coastline.

Thanks to the warm weather we enjoyed last fall, the wetland meadow seed that was planted in September and October germinated and established remarkably well.  There will certainly be more work to do, but these areas will be much more attractive in 2016.  While the area will require more attention over the coming years, the project to date is on schedule and well under the original anticipated budget.

The Fairway Renovation and Water Diversion Project approved by the membership in 2012 has resumed, and the permit applications are being finalized.  The goal is to have all applications submitted and approved by the end of 2016.  This will allow the club to move forward once the finance committee and Board of Governors determine the club is a position to initiate construction.

There have been a number of changes that have been going on behind the scenes as well, and we are very optimistic looking ahead to the coming golf season.  We hope you all wintered well and were able sneak in a few rounds of golf, and look forward to seeing you all on the golf course this spring.

Spring update

The calendar says that we are in the middle of spring, but looking out the window it feels more like it's just beginning.  We have been working hard to complete our renovation projects while getting the course open and ready for the golf season.
The greens aeration at the beginning of April has worked out beautifully, although the cool weather has delayed the recovery process a bit more than I had anticipated.  The rain today should put the finishing touches on the recovery, and the playing surfaces should be firm and smooth throughout the remainder of the season.  We will address the tees and fairways in the coming weeks as the weather and work schedule allow, but it will have minimal impact on the accessibility and playability of the golf course.
We now have two major projects complete, and hope to finish the third in the next couple of weeks.  The new mats at the driving range have been installed and have received rave reviews.  The fairway bunkers on the 1st hole have been renovated the sod has been installed.  They should be open for play by the middle of May.
The last major project is the re-grassing of the rough along the left side of the 1st hole.  This project is taking the longest due to irrigation repairs and upgrades which can only be completed at low tide.  These should be completed by the end of the week, allowing us to focus on improving the soil and installing the sod.  We have repaired, upgraded and expanded the irrigation over the last few weeks to improve the health of the turf after the renovation project is complete.
The phragmites are starting to recover from the winter mowing, and we will do our best to keep them under control.  There are a few people that do not like the changes, but as the native vegetation returns to the wetlands I am confident that the majority of the golfers will grow to like the new look.  The only place that there is a general dislike of the removal is along the 2nd hole.  We will be extending the wooden fence at the tee and will allow a 10'-15' buffer to grow back to block the view of the road. 
Soon warmer weather will be upon us and the grass will be growing vigorously.  We look forward to putting the projects to rest and enjoying the warm sun and sea breezes that make Pine Orchard the place to be in the Summer.

Changes for the better.

We hired a contractor to come and transplant three trees to restore the strategic value that was lost one year ago when we had to remove the large pine tree that guarded the left side of the 3rd fairway.  Last spring we consulted with golf course architect Tim Gerrish to determine a long term solution that would challenge tee shots that were played along the left side of the fairway.  His solution included adding four trees in the left rough adding a new fairway bunker.  Last spring the Golf Long Range Committee approved the planting of the trees, and our staff planted the largest sugar maple that we could handle given our equipment.  

Today we transplanted three significantly larger red maples to complete the planting portion of the architect's drawing.  The new trees will provide a significant penalty for shots that miss far left of the fairway, but will not prevent the advancement of the second shot.  For the next few years it will be possible for many players to play over the trees, but it will require a lofted pitch shot making the approach to the green much more difficult.

The photos above show the process of digging a substantial rootball, raising it intact, and transporting the tree, roots and all, about 225 yards where it was installed in its new location.  

There will be a significant amount of care required over the next two years to ensure the success of the transplant, but I was assured that this species of tree is extremely hardy and tolerates this type of transplant well, especially at this time of year.

Click on any of the photos to enlarge

The new view from the left rough on #3

Another significant change to the course this winter is the cutting of the phragmites found throughout the property.  Phragmites, or Common Reed, is an invasive species that is a very aggressive weed in freshwater wetlands.  It modifies the nature of the wetland and out-competes the native plants by limiting the light availability, and ultimately crowds out the desirable vegetation.  It has little value as a wetland species due to the fact that it destroys diversity among plants and excludes the native insects, migratory birds, and mammals that rely on wetlands for survival.  Over time, the phragmites accumulate a significant amount of biomass and ultimately fill in the wetland.  This would be extremely detrimental to the golf course since we rely on these wetlands to absorb water running down the hill from the 7th and 8th holes.  If left unchecked, their continued growth would have a  negative impact on the health and condition of the 7th green and approach, as well as the forward tee on #17.  

Across the 1st fairway to the 7th and 8th holes

Cutting the dormant vegetation is the first step in the management project.  The dormant stalks are cut down and mulched as much as possible.  The material is left in place to decay to prevent transporting seeds and roots to new areas where the weed can begin a new infestation.  We are working on securing a permit that will allow us to complete the second step, which involves treating the areas with a herbicide to kill the vegetation that recovers from the initial mowing.  This will be followed up by another round of cutting next winter.  The following spring the native plants will begin to reestablish themselves from the seed bank that exists in the wetland soils.  I have already reached out to one of my vendors to explore the possibility of introducing some desirable wetlands plants that will speed up the recovery process and create an attractive habitat that contributes to the beauty and character of the golf course.

The work to the right of the 9th/18th tees can be seen from Blackstone Road, but the most significant visual impact will be found standing in the 7th fairway.  It will take some time to get used to the unobstructed views throughout the area, but in time the aesthetic and ecological benefits that the  wetlands contribute to the property will be well worth the wait.  A similar project has been implemented at Madison CC, and I have heard from a number of golfers that it has transformed a large portion of the property. 

View from the 18th Back Tee

Looking down the 7th fairway

Phragmites project update

The contractor has completed the cutting portion of the phragmites control project. We will continue working on a permit to spray the areas with an herbicide this summer. 

Phragmites management project: Part 1

View of the work area from the
9th/18th tee area
Click on photos to enlarge.

All Habitat Services has been hired to begin controlling the phragmites that have overtaken the inland and tidal wetlands throughout the golf course. Our staff cut most of the invasive weeds surrounding the 7th green at the end of last month, and now we are focusing on the source of the material near the 9th tee.
We are working with the town to secure permits that will allow us to kill the emerging weeds later in the summer, followed by another round of cutting next winter.
I will continue to consult other golf courses that have successfully implemented a long term management plan to see what will be involved in the future. The short term succession of native plants takes a few years to completely recover, but once it does the wetlands are much healthier, act as a natural filter for water moving in and out of the watershed, and provide beneficial habitat for native birds, insects, and mammals that are often excluded by the dense phragmites.